Today I am going to see the fortress. It dates to early 1600's. There was many battles here between the Spanish, who bult this fortress strategically on a hill overlooking the rapids around the Rio San Juan bend, and the British and Dutch trying to go up the river to Granada, on the other side of Lago Nicaragua, which was apparently rich in gold.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → I started my day with a chat with this lovely parrot, who seems to be like a pet, yet hangs around freely on the tree here by someone's house, right above the walk way. Very funny bird, making all sorts of talk and funny noises, including whistling like a human!

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → Here it is, on the move again on it's two legs and a beak.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → Another interesting sight for someone who perhaps hasn't been to tropics - sprouting coconuts.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → Now the main event for the day - visit to the fortress.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → The fortress.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → Rio San Juan through one of the many stratigically placed shooting staitions.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → Along the walls onj the river side.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → The same area but viewed from the top level.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → There are many very tight shooting stations on this level, placed in such angles that they literally cover the whole 360 degrees filed view around the fortress.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → Like here, one is facing to the left, and the other a bit to the right. Then those next to them are constructed to have such angles that they will overlap these. Also, some will face higher, while others lower. Considering the location of the fortress, right behind the rapids, and having it designed in such way, I can see how difficult, or rather impossible, would it be for anyone to try to not even conquer it, but just pass by.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → The top level offer great views of the area. Here, you can see the rapids, which I was told were created a few hundred years ago as a result of an earthquake.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → View to the left, at the part of El Castillo where my hotel and the fery dock are.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → This is Rio San Juan and El Castillo after the rapids.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → I zoomed in and the scenery is pretty stunning. This is the way to San Juan del Nicaragua, where I will be taking a boat soon.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → One last walk around the fortress, and I will be heading back to town for some food.

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → Nothing better than a fresh fish, which is right from the river and super fresh here. I had one like this at this place before, except that was steamed with garlic. This time fried, yet not oily. You can see my hand holding the tray for comparison - the fish was huge and could be for more than one meal. Cost - 200 Cordobas (8 dollars).

Photo:  El Castillo, Nicaragua → It's eight o'clock. The baby at my hotel is sleeping, and I will be also calling it for today. Tomorrow I am going to San Juan de Nicaragua.

El Castillo is a cool swmall town, with no cars or motorcycles. Great place to hang out for relaxing on a patio right on the river, listening to the sound of rapids. I'd like to come back here another time in the future, and I'd recommend it to other for at least a two or three day visit.

More - Continued here.